A group of scientists working in a region of Ethiopa discovered a fossil
about three and a half million years old that they claim did not belong
to a member of the "Lucy" specie, which is a fossil of a famous human
ancestor. This is leading the group to claim that more than one species
of early human ancestor existed between three and four million years
ago. The big toe of the foot in Lucy's species was aligned with the
other four toes for human-like bipedal walking, but the newly
found fossil of this foot has an opposable big toe. The group of
scientists believe that the difference in the big toe would cause
differences in locomotion and subsequent lifestyle. However, the new
partial foot specimen has not yet been assigned to a species due to the
lack of associated skull or dental elements.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/03/28/discovery_of_foot_fossil_confirms_2_human_ancestor_species_coexisted_34_million_years_ago.html
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